Apostrophe's - When to use them

8/7/2019 Apostrophe's - When to use them

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Apostrophes When to use them.

PossessionRule Applies to Examples

Add - s. Singular nouns The boy's bike is in the back yard.

James's car was in the accident yesterday.

Plural Nouns These women's hats are sold in this store.

The children's party was a great success.

Indefinite

pronouns *

Anyone's guess is as good as mine.

Someone's stupidity is going to hurt everyone's

chances for success.

Expressions of

time, space and

amount

He bought a dollar's worth of ice cream.

Can you spare a moment's time to help me?

Keyboard letters

and symbols

Your f's look like b's when you write.

Your 3's, 5's and &s need to be clearer.Exception Applies to Examples

Add - . Plural nouns orplural expressions

of time, space and

amount ending in

s

All the pupils' seats were taken.

The lawyers' fees came to a million dollars.

To finish this job will take four days' work.

You are to be here in two hours' time.

To the last name

only - Add - s.

Joint Ownership

nouns

Smith and Johnson's store sells fruit.

Jim and Jeff's apartment was really dirty.

Add the s to else

not to the

indefinite pronoun.

Indefinite

pronouns + else

Someone else's effort resolved the problem.

We should always be aware of somebody else's

pain.

No apostrophe Possessive

Pronouns

Your book isnt here.

Everyone's voice will be heard but yours.

Whose idea was it to stay longer?

ContractionRule Applies to Examples

The apostrophe

shows that a

letter/number or

letters/numbers

have been

omitted. **

A pronoun and a

verb or a verb with

the word "not" are

the commonestcontractions.

we're it's you've who's hasn't.

wasn't haven't couldn't we'd they'll.

I'll I'm she'll she'll I'll.

he's you'll you're isn't hadn't.

shouldn't doesn't there's they've you'd.Time and Dates I graduated in '58.

He said that he would be here by six o'clock.

Colloquial orcareless speech

I am runnin' this place, and I am not wantin' anyhelp.

Irregulars Applies to Examples

3 verbs, shall, will

and can.

shall not = shan't

will not = won't

cannot = can't


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Notes

* Indefinite pronouns are pronouns that do not point out specifically. They point out

generally. They include such words as another, any, anybody, anyone, anything, both,

each, either, everybody, everyone, everything, many, neither, nobody, none, no one,

one, other, others, some, somebody, and someone.

** Do not confuse the contractions (it's, who's, they're, you're) with the possessivepronouns (its, whose, their, your).

Exercises

Exercise 1 - PossessionSupply the apostrophes and/or "s" to make the possessives in the following sentences.

1.Helen mother lives next door to us.2.The dog growl scared the baby in the neighbour garden.3.The babies and the children fun ended with the parents return. (joint

ownership)

4.Both Carol and Anne hair is red. (separate ownership)5.Simon and Claire mother came to the ballet. (joint ownership)6.The women and girls boots were all mixed together. (separate ownership)7.The robber hoods covered their faces.8.The floor was covered with several hens feathers.9.I could hardly hear the dog bark.10.The wolves howls came sharply to the deer ears.

Exercise 2 Possession

Supply the apostrophes and/or "s" to make the possessives in the following sentences.

11.The dogs stomach was cut from jumping the neighbours fence.12.Phil andSues shop will be open at Easter.13.His uncles niece will be on television with Madonnas band.14.Could I buy five euros worth of sweets for the kids?


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15.Somebodys boots have been left in the kitchen.16.Everybody elses help will be appreciated by my mothers family.17.His clothes are here, but where are yours?18.The women and girls ages were revealed to everyone.19.Just two days more work will finish this room.20.Anns and Marys costumes were the prettiest of everyones.

Exercise 3 Contractions

Supply the apostrophes in the following sentences.

21.I wish everyone had the spirit of 66.22.I spose that you want your money back23.His 5s look just like my 6s24.Its raining again, but its worth it to me.25.Its mother wont let me see if its okay.26.Dont do that again because youre a better person than that.27.Capn, can I bother you for a few minutes?28.Ive had it with you if you shant help me pass the class. 29.Your mother said your ts looked like ls, and you run your sentences together

with ands.

30.Theyre goin to be here at four oclock.


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Answers

Exercise 1 - Possession

1.Helens mother lives next door to us.2.The dogs growl scared the baby in the neighbours garden.3.The babies and the childrens fun ended with the parents return. (joint

ownership)

4.Both Carols and Annes hair is red. (separate ownership)5.Simon and Claires mother came to the ballet. (joint ownership)6.The womens and girls boots were all mixed together. (separate

ownership)

7.The robbers hoods covered their faces.8.The floor was covered with several hens feathers.9.I could hardly hear the dogs bark.10.The wolves howls came sharply to the deers ears.

Exercise 2 PossessionSupply the apostrophes and/or "s" to make the possessives in the following sentences.

11.The dogs stomach was cut from jumping the neighbours fence.12.Phil andSues shop will be open at Easter.13.His uncles neice will be on television with Madonnas band.14.Could I buy five euros worth of sweets for the kids?15.Somebodys boots have been left in the kitchen.16.Everybody elses help will be appreciated by my mothers family.17.His clothes are here, but where are yours?18.The womens and girls ages were revealed to everyone.19.Just two days more work will finish this room.


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20.Anns and Marys costumes were the prettiest of everyones.Exercise 3 Contractions

Supply the apostrophes in the following sentences.

21.I wish everyone had the spirit of 66.22.I spose that you want your money back23.His 5s look just like my 6s24.Its raining again, but its worth it to me.25.Its mother wont let me see if its okay.26.Dont do that again because youre a better person than that.27.Capn, can I bother you for a few minutes?28.Ive had it with you if you shant help me pass the class.29.Your mother said your ts looked like ls, and you run your sentences together

with ands.

30.Theyre goin to be here at four oclock.

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Apostrophe's - When to use them